Are there any good walking treadmills?

January 3, 2023 8:40 AM

I've got a sunny health and fitness walking treadmill that I use. The motor is about to die a second time. I use it on low speed (1 mile/hour) while I work at a standing desk. Are there better models out there with better warranty?

I followed manufacturer's instructions pretty carefully:

- the belt is lubricated regularly

- the belt is tight, but not too tight

- I'm well under the 250lb limit

The motor get extremely hot -- 130F+ so I figure this one is on it's way out as well. Any suggestions for a better model?

posted by aeighty to Health & Fitness (10 answers total)

Best answer: I did a bunch of research recently and found this was the best overall walking treadmill - quietest, most durable, highest weight capacity (350lbs!), and is actually rated for continuous use (6 hours) at walking speed:

https://www.lifespanfitness.com/products/tr1200-dt3-under-desk-treadmill

It was also the most expensive :( But I'm a big person and need the durability & weight capacity, and I don't want to be buying a new walking treadmill every year. So I bought it, it arrives next week...
posted by jpeacock at 9:05 AM on January 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Would the manual version that they offer work for you? It has no motor to burn out. :-)
posted by SegFaultCoreDump at 9:08 AM on January 3, 2023

I’ve had the LifeSpan 1200 model linked above since October 2021, and it feels a million times more solid than my first sketchy Amazon GoYouth under desk treadmill. I decided not to spring for the LifeSpan 5000 model because 6 hours a day is plenty, and I know how to apply treadmill belt lube.

A couple months after I got it I started to notice a rattling sound from the motor, so I chatted with LifeSpan customer service, sent them a video with sound, and got a free replacement motor in the mail. They were supposed to send a technician to install it, but that never happened, and due to the pandemic I never pursued it. To be honest, the clicking noise never got worse, so I continued to use the original motor and now have the replacement waiting around in case I really need it. I’ve walked 1184 miles on it in 14 months, so it is holding up great.

My only complaint is that powering it on can be kind of glitchy if the whole thing is unplugged from the wall for whatever reason, and it’s definitely a permanent fixture in my living room office due to weight and size (that was one benefit of the sketchy Amazon treadmill, it could be rolled away or stood up against the wall).
posted by Maarika at 9:23 AM on January 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

I use the Treadly, and have used it for 2.5 years without any issues (knocks wood, knocks all the wood). During the lockdown era it got more regular use than now, but it still gets a fair stretch of walking most weeks. It's pricy compared to the Sunny but I haven't regretted that extra money.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:03 AM on January 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: One last chance for keeping the old one alive a little longer: Are you giving it the not very well advertised cool down time it needs every 2 hours? I don't think this one is rated for continuous use.
posted by mrgoldenbrown at 10:31 AM on January 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

I don't have a specific treadmill reco but I will say that this is a product category where spending money is worth it in the long term. We have a Landice L7 home treadmill that was purchased in the 2004-5 timeframe and it is still going strong despite me being 200+ pounds and me putting 25-30 miles a week on it running.

It was definitely pricey but has more than paid for itself including its lifetime parts guarantee. I want to say once every 5-7 years it needs a little TLC which amounts to $150-200 in labor costs.
posted by mmascolino at 10:41 AM on January 3, 2023

Is there any place where one can go to try out treadmills?

Asking for a friend and also for OP.
posted by wenestvedt at 10:52 AM on January 3, 2023

another fan of lifespan. I just passed on my 7 year old treadmill to it's next user. I mostly got rid of it b/c I had gotten into good enough shape that I needed something with an incline/more of a work out (it goes up to 4mph)
posted by snowymorninblues at 11:34 AM on January 3, 2023

I tried out the LifeSpan under desk treadmill in person at a workplace ergonomics business in suburban Minneapolis and ordered it through them as well. They only had the one model, but it was the one I was looking for.
posted by Maarika at 12:02 PM on January 3, 2023

Best answer: I, we, have tried several walking treadmills and our iMovr Thermo Tread GT is, hands-down, the best. Recently, iMovr replaced the Thermo Tread with a model called the Unsit. These are not inexpensive treadmills but they are very quiet, designed expressly for walking and are wider and shorter than a running treadmill, and have motors and drive systems optimized for the low walking speeds (2.5 mph max speed). We tried to use our club-grade Landice at walking speed and it really did not like operating at the low walking speeds—always sounded like the motor was bogging down and the power cord would get warmish-hot (but would not get warm at higher running speeds).
posted by bz at 12:44 PM on January 3, 2023